Tinubu needs to act on hardship in the land — Muslim professionals

THE Political Awareness Group (PAG), an association of Muslim professionals and technocrats in Nigeria, has lamented the hardship in the country and called on President Bola Tinubu to take steps to address the situation.

PAG national president, Malam Abdul-Waheed Olowonjaye, made the call at a press conference held at FOMWAN headquarters in Utako, Abuja.

According to Olowonjaye, it has been eight months since the present administration came on board and in that time, the majority of Nigerians have only experienced worse poverty, rising cost of living and falling standard of living.

He stated that while misery had been the lot of the masses of the people, a few people in government had been “recklessly enriching themselves with taxpayers’ money.”

Olowonjaye, who noted that Nigerians’ expectations from the government were not bigger than the campaign promises of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), told the president that as Muslim professionals and technocrats, the group was concerned about “the deplorable situation of our dear country under your watch today.”

He said as part of Nigerians who voted massively for the president in the last general election, believing in his capacity to chart a new course for the nation and bring a new lease of life for the downtrodden citizens, “we are duty-bound” to “call your attention” to the need to rise up to the duty of delivering good governance and dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

The PAG national president also accused the president of being unfair to Muslims in the appointments he had made so far, urging him to include in his team, worthy Muslim professionals who would add value to his government.

He stated that the anti-graft crusade in the country might not be effective until “there are special courts of law prosecuting corruption cases with speedy and meticulous proceedings like election tribunals.”

Olowonjaye, who pleaded with the Federal Government to ensure autonomy for local governments, asked the government to saddle traditional rulers and local chiefs with greater responsibilities, saying they could be resourceful in finding a solution to the scourge of insecurity in the country.

The press conference came on the heels of a two-day national conference of the association with the theme ‘Enhancing the Representation and Participation of Muslims in Nigerian Institutions and Quality Decision-Making Processes’, held between Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27, 2024 in Abuja.